This is Blaecorn Unidragon made with Beechwood Smoked malt, which adds a natural meaty note (there is no actual meat in the brew). Aged 100% bourbon barrels. Little piggies run, squeal to the heavens: Clown Shoes wishes you luck.

Porcine Unidragon opens to a rich, malty, syrupy, smoky nose that immediately bespeaks a massive brew. Fresh-ground black coffee, ash, tobacco, and healthy doses of smoky peat form an almost solid wall in their potency, bolstered by heavy cream, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, and a touch of vanilla and charcoal from the bourbon barrel aging. Figs, dates, prunes, and black cherries add further nuance to the sugars, accompanied by both milk and dark chocolate. As the bottle sits open for a minute or so, faint smudges of citrusy and piney hops begin to appear and rim the edges. As a whole, the nose is fantastic, offering pretty much everything one could hope for in a barrel-aged Imperial Stout: massive sugars, ash, tobacco, and hints enough of bourbon to please the nose. A slightly larger bourbon presence would have added further pleasure, but this is still an aroma to be reckoned with.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a huge wave of tobacco, ash, coffee grounds, espresso, black malt, smoky peat, and charcoal – it’s difficult to imagine more smoke, ash, wood, and char in a beer. These are somewhat tempered by heavy cream, molasses, brown sugar, and a few fruit esters (fig, black cherry, date, prune), but even the massive sugars present in here aren’t enough to overcome the ash fugue. Then a shot of pretty much straight bourbon laces the teeth and tongue together, bringing heavy vanilla and charcoal, as well as a strong bourbon alcoholic burn that rises into the nasal cavities. In subsequent sips the bourbon notes somehow increase in potency, almost overly-dominating the flavor profile. The aftertaste is a long-lingering ashy and bourbon-alcoholic reminder of the main notes. Mouthfeel is a surprising medium (though it feels like it should be more viscous, given the flavors), and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is very good Imperial Stout, and the bourbon barrel aging has added lovely layers of complexity to the base Blaecorn Unidragon. While the bourbon notes aren’t as immediately present on the nose, they come out in full force on the tongue, and actually might end up being a bit too strong, overshadowing the stout, which struggles to come through. Which is to say: anyone who is not a fan of bourbon should probably stay away. But lovers of Imperial Stouts will find this a nice addition to their repertoire.

Served from a 22 oz bomber poured into a snifterA - pours a dark brown almost black with a very thin light brown headS - chocolate, coffee with a slight hint of bourbon on the nose. Not quite as boozy as I thought it would beT - Much like the nose chocolate, coffee, with slight vanilla and a bit of the bourbon barrel on the finishM - not too carbonated (which I like for this style). Starts slow but has a dry, pleasantly boozy finish. Smoke notes throughoutO - The only thing I love more than beer is bourbon, so I am all over every bourbon barrel aged beer I can find. Not quite as much of the boozy bourbon taste I like in a bourbon barrel beer but still an excellent brew. An excellent, high quality imperial stout that I will be purchasing a couple more bombers of to go in the cellar!

This bottle, a find in a recent US road trip, has some incredible characteristics. However it is much more boozy that the 12.5% abv would represent. Not that the booze is in the nose or even finish, but certainly in the aftertaste it is pure alcohol. A little thin for an IS. However the beechwood smoke was outstanding, and the bourbon is well integrated in the flavour. Dangerously drinkable.

This is really a big beer. The nose and flavor truly showcase the bourbon barrel aging. The stout itself is rich, full flavored, and deep. This beer hits on every flavor that a RIS should, the bourbon is huge but well matched. My only complaint is that this is intensely boozy. I'm sure a little age could mellow it out. Overall, this is really a solid offering that I highly recommend to any serious BBA or stout lover.